Nestlé vs. nutrition: 70% of the company's food items, 96% of beverages, and 99% of candy and ice cream products don't meet a 'recognized definition of health,' new report says

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Nestlé, the world's biggest food company by sales, has decided to eat healthier, and not just because it took a chance on the expired crab dip yesterday.

An internal presentation reported by the FT found that 63% of Nestlé products don't meet a "recognized definition of health" (in this case, at least 3.5/5 stars on Australia's health rating system).

• The report didn't count baby formula, coffee, pet food, or medical nutrition, which account for about half of sales. If it had, that figure would be closer to 28%.

Unfortunately for Nestlé's PR team...these stats are more memorable:

• 70% of food items, 96% of beverages, and 99% of candy/ice cream products didn't crack a 3.5.
• One pepperoni pizza Hot Pocket contains almost 30% of recommended daily sodium intake.

In response, Nestlé said it's updating nutrition standards and its health strategy. Execs said they have made improvements in recent years, including reducing sugars and sodium in products by about 15%.

Baby Ruths aren't going anywhere, though: "Confectionary and chocolate address a deep human need and are going to be here to stay," CEO Mark Schneider said last year.

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